还乡The Return Of The Native-第53部分

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mage　by　briars　and　thorns。　　And　then　she　thought　of　his　manner　towards　herself。　
“O　I　see　it；　I　see　it；”　she　said。　　“How　much　he　wishes　he　had　me　now；　that　he　might　give　me　all　I　desire！”
In　recalling　the　details　of　his　glances　and　words—at　the　time　scarcely　regarded—it　became　plain　to　her　how　greatly　they　had　been　dictated　by　his　knowledge　of　this　new　event。　　“Had　he　been　a　man　to　bear　a　jilt　ill…will　he　would　have　told　me　of　his　good　fortune　in　crowing　tones；　instead　of　doing　that　he　mentioned　not　a　word；　in　deference　to　my　misfortunes；　and　merely　implied　that　he　loved　me　still；　as　one　superior　to　him。”
Wildeve’s　silence　that　day　on　what　had　happened　to　him　was　just　the　kind　of　behaviour　calculated　to　make　an　impression　on　such　a　woman。　　Those　delicate　touches　of　good　taste　were；　in　fact；　one　of　the　strong　points　in　his　demeanour　towards　the　other　sex。　　The　peculiarity　of　Wildeve　was　that；　while　at　one　time　passionate；　upbraiding；　and　resentful　towards　a　woman；　at　another　he　would　treat　her　with　such　unparalleled　grace　as　to　make　previous　neglect　appear　as　no　discourtesy；　injury　as　no　insult；　interference　as　a　delicate　attention；　and　the　ruin　of　her　honour　as　excess　of　chivalry。　　This　man；　whose　admiration　today　Eustacia　had　disregarded；　whose　good　wishes　she　had　scarcely　taken　the　trouble　to　accept；　whom　she　had　shown　out　of　the　house　by　the　back　door；　was　the　possessor　of　eleven　thousand　pounds—a　man　of　fair　professional　education；　and　one　who　had　served　his　articles　with　a　civil　engineer。　
So　intent　was　Eustacia　upon　Wildeve’s　fortunes　that　she　forgot　how　much　closer　to　her　own　course　were　those　of　Clym；　and　instead　of　walking　on　to　meet　him　at　once　she　sat　down　upon　a　stone。　　She　was　disturbed　in　her　reverie　by　a　voice　behind；　and　turning　her　head　beheld　the　old　lover　and　fortunate　inheritor　of　wealth　immediately　beside　her。
She　remained　sitting；　though　the　fluctuation　in　her　look　might　have　told　any　man　who　knew　her　so　well　as　Wildeve　that　she　was　thinking　of　him。　
“How　did　you　e　here？”　she　said　in　her　clear　low　tone。　
“I　thought　you　were　at　home。”
“I　went　on　to　the　village　after　leaving　your　garden；　and　now　I　have　e　back　again—that’s　all。　　Which　way　are　you　walking；　may　I　ask？”
She　waved　her　hand　in　the　direction　of　Blooms…End。　“I　am　going　to　meet　my　husband。　　I　think　I　may　possibly　have　got　into　trouble　whilst　you　were　with　me　today。”
“How　could　that　be？”
“By　not　letting　in　Mrs。　Yeobright。”
“I　hope　that　visit　of　mine　did　you　no　harm。”
“None。　It　was　not　your　fault；”　she　said　quietly。　
By　this　time　she　had　risen；　and　they　involuntarily　sauntered　on　together；　without　speaking；　for　two　or　three　minutes；　when　Eustacia　broke　silence　by　saying；　“I　assume　I　must　congratulate　you。”
“On　what？　　O　yes；　on　my　eleven　thousand　pounds；　you　mean。　　Well；　since　I　didn’t　get　something　else；　I　must　be　content　with　getting　that。”
“You　seem　very　indifferent　about　it。　　Why　didn’t　you　tell　me　today　when　you　came？”　she　said　in　the　tone　of　a　neglected　person。　　“I　heard　of　it　quite　by　accident。”
“I　did　mean　to　tell　you；”　said　Wildeve。　　“But　I—well；　I　will　speak　frankly—I　did　not　like　to　mention　it　when　I　saw；　Eustacia；　that　your　star　was　not　high。　　The　sight　of　a　man　lying　wearied　out　with　hard　work；　as　your　husband　lay；　made　me　feel　that　to　brag　of　my　own　fortune　to　you　would　be　greatly　out　of　place。　　Yet；　as　you　stood　there　beside　him；　I　could　not　help　feeling　too　that　in　many　respects　he　was　a　richer　man　than　I。”
At　this　Eustacia　said；　with　slumbering　mischievousness；　“What；　would　you　exchange　with　him—your　fortune　for　me？”
“I　certainly　would；”　said　Wildeve。
“As　we　are　imagining　what　is　impossible　and　absurd；　suppose　we　change　the　subject？”
“Very　well；　and　I　will　tell　you　of　my　plans　for　the　future；　if　you　care　to　hear　them。　　I　shall　permanently　invest　nine　thousand　pounds；　keep　one　thousand　as　ready　money；　and　with　the　remaining　thousand　travel　for　a　year　or　so。”
“Travel？　　What　a　bright　idea！　Where　will　you　go　to？”
“From　here　to　Paris；　where　I　shall　pass　the　winter　and　spring。　　Then　I　shall　go　to　Italy；　Greece；　Egypt；　and　Palestine；　before　the　hot　weather　es　on。　　In　the　summer　I　shall　go　to　America；　and　then；　by　a　plan　not　yet　settled；　I　shall　go　to　Australia　and　round　to　India。　　By　that　time　I　shall　have　begun　to　have　had　enough　of　it。　　Then　I　shall　probably　e　back　to　Paris　again；　and　there　I　shall　stay　as　long　as　I　can　afford　to。”
“Back　to　Paris　again；”　she　murmured　in　a　voice　that　was　nearly　a　sigh。　　She　had　never　once　told　Wildeve　of　the　Parisian　desires　which　Clym’s　description　had　sown　in　her；　yet　here　was　he　involuntarily　in　a　position　to　gratify　them。　　“You　think　a　good　deal　of　Paris？”　she　added。　
“Yes。　In　my　opinion　it　is　the　central　beauty…spot　of　the　world。”
“And　in　mine！　And　Thomasin　will　go　with　you？”
“Yes；　if　she　cares　to。　　She　may　prefer　to　stay　at　home。”
“So　you　will　be　going　about；　and　I　shall　be　staying　here！”
“I　suppose　you　will。　　But　we　know　whose　fault　that　is。”
“I　am　not　blaming　you；”　she　said　quickly。　
“Oh；　I　thought　you　were。　　If　ever　you　SHOULD　be　inclined　to　blame　me；　think　of　a　certain　evening　by　Rainbarrow；　when　you　promised　to　meet　me　and　did　not。　　You　sent　me　a　letter；　and　my　heart　ached　to　read　that　as　I　hope　yours　never　will。　　That　was　one　point　of　divergence。　　I　then　did　something　in　haste。。。。But　she　is　a　good　woman；　and　I　will　say　no　more。”
“I　know　that　the　blame　was　on　my　side　that　time；”　said　Eustacia。　　“But　it　had　not　always　been　so。　　However；　it　is　my　misfortune　to　be　too　sudden　in　feeling。　
O；　Damon；　don’t　reproach　me　any　more—I　can’t　bear　that。”
They　went　on　silently　for　a　distance　of　two　or　three　miles；　when　Eustacia　said　suddenly；　“Haven’t　you　e　out　of　your　way；　Mr。　Wildeve？”
“My　way　is　anywhere　tonight。　　I　will　go　with　you　as　far　as　the　hill　on　which　we　can　see　Blooms…End；　as　it　is　getting　late　for　you　to　be　alone。”
“Don’t　trouble。　　I　am　not　obliged　to　be　out　at　all。　
I　think　I　would　rather　you　did　not　acpany　me　further。　
This　sort　of　thing　would　have　an　odd　look　if　known。”
“Very　well；　I　will　leave　you。”　　He　took　her　hand　unexpectedly；　and　kissed　it—for　the　first　time　since　her　marriage。　　“What　light　is　that　on　the　hill？”　he　added；　as　it　were　to　hide　the　caress。　
She　looked；　and　saw　a　flickering　firelight　proceeding　from　the　open　side　of　a　hovel　a　little　way　before　them。　　The　hovel；　which　she　had　hitherto　always　found　empty；　seemed　to　be　inhabited　now。　
“Since　you　have　e　so　far；”　said　Eustacia；　“will　you　see　me　safely　past　that　hut？　　I　thought　I　should　have　met　Clym　somewhere　about　here；　but　as　he　doesn’t　appear　I　will　hasten　on　and　get　to　Blooms…End　before　he　leaves。”
They　advanced　to　the　turf…shed；　and　when　they　got　near　it　the　firelight　and　the　lantern　inside　showed　distinctly　enough　the　form　of　a　woman　reclining　on　a　bed　of　fern；　a　group　of　heath　men　and　women　standing　around　her。　　Eustacia　did　not　recognize　Mrs。　Yeobright　in　the　reclining　figure；　nor　Clym　as　one　of　the　standers…by　till　she　came　close。　　Then　she　quickly　pressed　her　hand　up　on　Wildeve’s　arm　and　signified　to　him　to　e　back　from　the　open　side　of　the　shed　into　the　shadow。
“It　is　my　husband　and　his　mother；”　she　whispered　in　an　agitated　voice。　　“What　can　it　mean？　　Will　you　step　forward　and　tell　me？”
Wildeve　left　her　side　and　went　to　the　back　wall　of　the　hut。　　Presently　Eustacia　perceived　that　he　was　beckoning　to　her；　and　she　advanced　and　joined　him。　
“It　is　a　serious　case；”　said　Wildeve。
From　their　position　they　could　hear　what　was　proceeding　inside。　
“I　cannot　think　where　she　could　have　been　going；”　said　Clym　to　someone。　　“She　had　evidently　walked　a　long　way；　but　even　when　she　was　able　to　speak　just　now　she　would　not　tell　me　where。　　What　do　you　really　think　of　her？”
“There　is　a　great　deal　to　fear；”　was　gravely　answered；　in　a　voice　which　Eustacia　recognized　as　that　of　the　only　surgeon　in　the　district。　　“She　has　suffered　somewhat　from　the　bite　of　the　adder；　but　it　is　exhaustion　which　has　overpowered　her。　　My　impression　is　that　her　walk　must　have　been　exceptionally　long。”
“I　used　to　tell　her　not　to　overwalk　herself　this　weather；”　said　Clym；　with　distress。　　“Do　you　think　we　did　well　in　using　the　adder’s　fat？”
“Well；　it　is　a　very　ancient　remedy—the　old　remedy　of　the　viper…catchers；　I　believe；”　replied　the　doctor。　　“It　is　mentioned　as　an　infallible　ointment　by　Hoffman；　Mead；　and　I　think　the　Abbe　Fontana。　　Undoubtedly　it　was　as　good　a　thing　as　you　could　do；　though　I　question　if　some　other　oils　would　not　have　been　equally　efficacious。”
“e　here；　e　here！”　was　then　rapidly　said　in　anxious　female　tones；　and　Clym　and　the　doctor　could　be　heard　rushing　forward　from　the　back　part　of　the　shed　to　where　Mrs。　Yeobright　lay。　
“Oh；　what　is　it？”　whispered　Eustacia。　
“’Twas　Thomasin　who　spoke；”　said　Wildeve。　　“Then　they　have　fetched　her。　　I　wonder　if　I　had　better　go　in—yet　it　might　do　harm。”
For　a　long　time　there　was　utter　silence　among　the　group　within；　and　it　was　broken　at　last　by　Clym　saying；　in　an　agonized　voice；　“O　Doctor；　what　does　it　mean？”
The　doctor　did　not　reply　at　once；　ultimately　he　said；　“She　is　sinking　fast。　　Her　heart　was　previously　affected；　and　physical　exhaustion　has　dealt　the　finishing　blow。”
Then　there　was　a　weeping　of　women；　then　waiting；　then　hushed　exclamations；　then　a　strange　gasping　sound；　then　a　painful　stillness。　
“It　is　all　over；”　said　the　doctor。　
Further　back　in　the　hut　the　cotters　whispered；　“Mrs。　Yeobright　is　dead。”
Almost　at　the　same　moment　the　two　watchers　observed　the　form　of　a　small　old…fashioned　child　entering　at　the　open　side　of　the　shed。　　Susan　Nunsuch；　whose　boy　it　was；　went　forward　to　the　opening　and　silently　beckoned　to　him　to　go　back。　
“I’ve　got　something　to　tell　‘ee；　Mother；”　he　cried　in　a　shrill　tone。　　“That　woman　asleep　there　walked　along　with　me　today；　and　she　said　I　was　to　say　that　I　had　seed　her；　and　she　was　a　broken…hearted　woman　and　cast　off　by　her　son；　and　then　I　came　on　home。”
A　confused　sob　as　from　a　man　was　heard　within；　upon　which　Eustacia　gasped　faintly；　“That’s　Clym—I　must　go　to　him—yet　dare　I　do　it？　　No—e　away！”
When　they　had　withdrawn　from　the　neighbourhood　of　the　shed　she　said　huskily；　“I　am　to　blame　for　this。　　There　is　evil　in　store　for　me。”
“Was　she　not　admitted　to　your　house　after　all？”
Wildeve　inquired。　
“No；　and　that’s　where　it　all　lies！　Oh；　what　shall　I　do！　I　shall　not　intrude　upon　them—I　shall　go　straight　home。　　Damon；　good…bye！　I　cannot　speak　to　you　any　more　now。”
They　parted　pany；　and　when　Eustacia　had　reached　the　next　hill　she　looked　back。　　A　melancholy　procession　was　wending　its　way　by　the　light　of　the　lantern　from　the　hut　towards　Blooms…End。　Wildeve　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　


book　five
THE　DISCOVERY


1　… “Wherefore　Is　Light　Given　to　Him　That　Is　in　Misery”


One　evening；　about　three　weeks　after　the　funeral　of　Mrs。　Yeobright；　when　the　silver　face　of　the　moon　sent　a　bundle　of　beams　directly　upon　the　floor　of　Clym’s　house　at　Alderworth；　a　woman　came　forth　from　within。　　She　reclined　over　the　garden　gate　as　if　to　refresh　herself　awhile。　　The　pale　lunar　touches　which　make　beauties　of　hags　lent　divinity　to　this　face；　already　beautiful。　
She　had　not　long　been　there　when　a　m